Taxis, trains, buses and subways are great ways to travel while on
vacation. Maintaining your safety while using each mode of travel
requires different precautions. Read our recommendations to help
insure your safety and security while traveling on these carriers.

We realize that transportation related safety recommendations are
unnerving but they should not cause you to rethink your travel plans.
The world outside your town is not that much different from the town
outside your door.

Always be prudent at home and on vacation, whether your travel is
domestic or foreign. We have designed our recommendations to help reduce
the likelihood that you will become a crime target or, otherwise, have a
bad experience while traveling.

Vigilance is the key to avoiding travel problems.

Just as you are watchful at home, maintain that vigilance during
your travels and you will have a safe and satisfying vacation.

Transportation related safety and crime levels vary by country. Check
to see if we have a
Destination Guide for your travel
destination. If so, we provide a section that describes any significant
crime problems by location.

Taxi Safety

Taxi service is regulated in most countries.

Take only Taxis identified with official markings.

The driver should have official identification and the Taxi should
be marked in a manner that identifies it as a taxi (e.g. fare light on
the roof, a name on the side, etc.).

Riding in unauthorized taxis is risky and we recommend that you
avoid doing so.

When looking for a taxi from your hotel, let the concierge arrange a
taxi for you.

If the hotel does not staff a concierge, have the desk staff or
owner call a taxi for you.

Dispatched taxis charge the same rates as other taxis but do tack on
a service charge for the “arranged pickup”.

We recommend that you do not share a taxi unless you are familiar with
the other riders. Remember, your main duty is to protect yourself and
your traveling companions. If your refusal to join a cab hurts someone’s
feeling, let it be.

Public Transportation

Note: We advise you to avoid using public
transportation (bus, train and subway) during the morning and evening
“rush hours” (7-10 AM and 4-7 PM), since these are the times when the
potential for terrorism is the greatest. These are, also, the times when users of
these forms of transportation are targeted by pickpockets and petty
thieves.

Train Safety

Trains and train station are a notorious for the presence of petty
thieves and pickpockets.

Always be watchful of your possessions.

Theft of luggage while riders wait on the train platforms is one of
the most common crimes reported by travelers.

Most travelers have their attention focused on the monitor to
track their train and look away from their belongings when they do
so.

If you have to look away from your possession, try to keep you
hands on your luggage.

Keeping you feet in firm contact with your bags is also a good
strategy.

Once on board the train, store your luggage where you can see it.

Although most trains provide storage areas at the end of each car,
it is impossible to monitor this area from most seats.

We recommend that you do not store your luggage out of sight in the
luggage area at the end of the car, as your luggage may not be there
when you leave the train.

If you are traveling, overnight and do not have a sleeper compartment,
make sure that you or your traveling companions do not sleep at the same
time you do, so one of you can keep an eye on your things.

If you are traveling alone, try to keep your valuables under you
when you sleep.

If you have a compartment, lock it. If it cannot be locked, follow the
same advice as above about sleeping one at a time

Do not accept food or drinks from strangers on trains as they may be
laced with a sleep potion designed to allow them to steal your
belongings.

Bus and Subway
Safety

Busses and subways provide all of the same challenges as trains.
Observe the same vigilance to protect yourself and your belongings.

Note: We advise avoiding public
transportation (bus, train and subway) during the morning and evening
“rush hours” (7-10 AM and 4-7 PM), since these are the times when the
potential for terrorism is the greatest. These are, also, the
times when users of these forms of transportation are targeted by
pickpockets and petty thieves.